Judge Rules Against 'Intelligent Design'

[DanS]

Just think how bad it must have been in the past!

[Az]

Actually, it's worse now than in the middle of the 20th century.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Az

Our system allows good ideas to rise to the top over time. Obviously, the system need not be perfect, because it is nowhere near perfect and still works acceptably well in this respect.

The wide spread of things like ID, supersititiousness, astrology, and other crap like that, seems to contradict this claim.

You hit the nail right on the head. Now you even have syndicated TV shows promoting all kinds of crackpot ideas such as medium. Then you have people selling all sorts of snake oil, things such as wooden sticks that will markly improve hi-fi experience, "nano water," etc.

I reckon Dan doesn't read James Randi's website.

I reckon the statement "Crap floats" is more fitting right now.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by DanS

I continue to be baffled by the religious establishment's abject lack of confidence in its own beliefs such that they have to do power plays by way of local school boards.

Adjusted to make more sense.

Science doesn't deal with the 'supernatural' but the 'natural'.

Why then militate to insert the teaching and expression of belief in the supernatural into the teaching of science ?

What is the religious establishment afraid of ?

That people might be taught to weigh and evaluate evidence, make accurate observations and learn how to develop theories ?

Oh, the horror, the horror...

I, Galileo Galilei, son of the late Vincenzo Galilei, Florentine, aged seventy years, arraigned personally before this tribunal, and kneeling before you, most Eminent and Reverend Lord Cardinals, Inquisitors general against heretical depravity throughout the whole Christian Republic, having before my eyes and touching with my hands, the holy Gospels -- swear that I have always believed, do now believe, and by God's help will for the future believe, all that is held, preached, and taught by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church.

But whereas -- after an injunction had been judicially intimated to me by this Holy Office, to the effect that I must altogether abandon the false opinion that the sun is the centre of the universe and immovable, and that the earth is not the centre of the universe, and moves, and that I must hold, defend, or teach in any way whatsoever, verbally or in writing, the said doctrine, and after it had been notified to me that the said doctrine was contrary to Holy Scripture -- I wrote and printed a book in which I discuss this doctrine already condemned, and adduce arguments of great cogency in its favour, without presenting any solution of these; and for this cause I have been pronounced by the Holy Office to be vehemently suspected of heresy, that is to say, of having held and believed that the sun is the centre of the universe and immovable, and that the earth is not the centre and moves...

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/recantation.html

[MikeH]

I would have no problem with "why ID isn't science" being taught in schools.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by MikeH
I would have no problem with "why ID isn't science" being taught in schools.

But in which class ?

Religious instruction or biology ?


Remember...

[BeBMan]

That was one of my favourite MP things

[Sandman]

Mary and Jesus potato snack

[MikeH]

Originally posted by molly bloom



But in which class ?

Religious instruction or biology ?


Remember...

Well, I think it's an interesting way to talk about what scientific method is and whether something is 'scientific' or not. Which would be science.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by BeBro
That was one of my favourite MP things

Yes, I found the idea of an inquisitor called Biggles inexplicably hilarious.

I find the modern day polyester clad variety insinuating their religious beliefs into science subjects less amusing.

Mr. Robertson demonstrating how much of his brain he thinks he uses ...


Phrenology- coming to a school near you!

[MikeH]

[SpencerH]

A (small) victory for reason.

[Pyrodrew]

Intelligent Design should be taught in science class as should my theories like...

Poof Theory - the whole world instantly formed with everything, including humans (clothed, in the middle of conversations, etc). There was nothing then everything. Poof. Why? Nature works in mysterious ways.

Are evolution and ID so weak they cannot stand up to Poof Theory?

[MikeH]

There genuinely was an old theory that suggested that if you had the right conditions life would randomly appear. Eg. open grain sacks in a dark barn would 'react' to spontaneously create rats.

[Cyclotron]

Well, some Greeks believed that dung spontaneously generated flies. Hey, why not?